Live fire gaming system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for live fire gaming wherein the system includes a camera, coupled to a server, for capturing images of a target onto which projectiles are being shot by a shooting device, a processing algorithm, implemented through the server, for identifying each single incremental change to the target associated with an initial and subsequent impact points of projectiles shot onto the target, each identification using only one captured image from the camera for each impact point, and a user-interface touch screen display, coupled to the server, for displaying and interfacing with one or more of: a representation of the target showing the impact points, marketing material, firearm safety information, and firearm training instructions.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for live fire gaming comprising:
 a camera, coupled to a server, for capturing images of a target impacted by projectiles being shot onto the target by a shooting device; 
 a processing algorithm, implemented through the server, for identifying each single incremental change to the target associated with individual impact points of projectiles shot onto the target, each identification using an aligned image of the target that is based on only one captured image from the camera for each impact point; and 
 a user-interface touch screen display, coupled to the server, for displaying each of the impact points on a representation of the target; 
 wherein the aligned image is created by uploading to the server the one captured image from the camera as an initial image of the target, the processing algorithm enhancing the initial image for clarity to form an enhanced image, and the processing algorithm orientationally aligning the enhanced image to a template target stored in a memory of the server to form the aligned image. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing algorithm further calculates a performance metric based upon the data for all identified single incremental changes to the target associated with the impact points of projectiles shot onto the target; and
 wherein the touch screen display, coupled to the server, displays and enables user interfacing with the performance metric. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the performance metric comprises: measurements relating to accuracy of the impact points. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the performance metric further comprises: point values based on the accuracy of the impact points. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a marketing platform for uploading marketing material to the server for displaying on the touch screen display to a user interfacing with the system. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the marketing platform enables selection of particular marketing material to be displayed from the uploaded marketing material. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the marketing platform enables adjustments to at least one of:
 a start time for marketing material to be displayed on the touch screen device, a duration for marketing material to be displayed on the touch screen device, and an interval of time between displays of individual marketing materials. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the marketing platform enables a user of the system to select via the touch screen device marketing material for electronic transmission to be viewed at a later time. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a safety module for presenting firearm safety information and protocol on the touch screen display to a user interfacing with the system. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a training module for presenting firearm training information and instruction on the touch screen display to a user interfacing with the system. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing algorithm identifies each incremental change to the target associated with an impact point of a projectile shot onto the target without relying on physical measurements from the target. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing algorithm identifies each incremental change to the target associated with an impact point of a projectile shot onto the target without relying on markings or other alterations to the template target. 
     
     
       13. A system for live fire gaming comprising:
 a camera, coupled to a server, for capturing images of a target being impacted by projectiles being shot onto the target by a shooting device; 
 a processing algorithm, implemented through the server, for identifying each single incremental change to the target associated with individual impact points of projectiles shot onto the target, each identification using an aligned image of the target that is based on only one captured image from the camera for each impact point; and 
 a user-interface touch screen display, coupled to the server, for displaying and interfacing with one or more of the following: 
 a representation of the target showing the impact points; 
 marketing material; 
 firearm safety information; and 
 firearm training instructions; 
 wherein the aligned image is created by uploading to the server the one captured image from the camera as an initial image of the target, the processing algorithm enhancing the initial image for clarity to form an enhanced image, and the processing algorithm orientationally aligning the enhanced image to a template target stored in a memory of the server to form the aligned image. 
 
     
     
       14. A method for live fire gaming comprising the steps of:
 providing a camera coupled to a server; 
 providing a processing algorithm implemented through the server; 
 capturing with the camera a single image relating to an impact point of each projectile fired onto a physical target by a shooting device; 
 adjusting with the processing algorithm the single captured image to produce an enhanced image; 
 identifying with the processing algorithm an incremental change to the physical target associated with the impact point of each projectile using only the enhanced image and a template image of the physical target; and 
 displaying each impact point on an electronic representation of the physical target; 
 wherein the identifying step comprises the processing algorithm orientationally aligning the enhanced image to the template image of the physical target to produce an aligned image. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 the processing algorithm using the template image as a basis to adjust the single captured image. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 the processing algorithm analyzing the single captured image for focus; and 
 the processing algorithm enhancing the clarity of the single captured image to produce the enhanced image. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 the processing algorithm analyzing the enhanced image in comparison to the template image to confirm the type of target represented in the enhanced image matches the type of target represented in the template image. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 the processing algorithm emphasizing the aligned image to sharpen and then filter target details to determine the incremental change associated with the aligned image relative to programmed filters to identify the impact point of the projectile and produce an emphasized image with the impact point identified. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 the processing algorithm extracting the target details filtered from the emphasized image associated with the impact point of the projectile; 
 the processing algorithm obtaining X, Y coordinates of the impact point; and 
 displaying the impact point on the electronic representation of the physical target.